About Me

Known principally for his weekly political columns and his commentaries on radio and television, Chris Trotter has spent most of his adult life either engaging in or writing about politics. He was the founding editor of The New Zealand Political Review (1992-2005) and in 2007 authored No Left Turn, a political history of New Zealand. Living in Auckland with his wife and daughter, Chris describes himself as an “Old New Zealander” – i.e. someone who remembers what the country was like before Rogernomics. He has created this blog as an archive for his published work and an outlet for his more elegiac musings. It takes its name from Bowalley Road, which runs past the North Otago farm where he spent the first nine years of his life. Enjoy.

Bowalley Road Rules

The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place.So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules.These are based on two very simple principles:Courtesy and Respect.Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned.Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym.Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse.However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.

For positivity, hope, expectation, solidarity with others in society (the two men grip hands and vow 'Womb to Tomb') here is 'Somethings Coming' from West Side Story sung by a photogenic man with lots of white teeth. Perfect analogy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu7sRdRrm_w

Jans MederI don't think you have any better political morale booster. I have just realised how important it is to have some soul and empathy when thinking in political terms. The pollies we have now seem singularly lacking in the idea of soul, and music comes from the soul so the circuses and the sheer joy of being alive and expressing that in some way should not be gloomed down.

We have to get rid of the soulless pollies who are breaking down our resistance to real soulless entities, the Artificial Intelligence machines being produced by the science-crazed; the elegant, extravagant,clever pieces of artifice that can take over our world. They will make all our decisions for us and we will let them because they are so much more efficient than us.

But we were never meant to be as efficient as at present, just able to adapt and keep thinking how to manage. Think about having a soul as the most important thing. And needing bread and circuses, bread and roses - the eternal struggle to find balance in life and not worship machines and goals distant from our everyday living.

Yes, I can see Jacinda instantly gaining several percentage points. Firstly because she's not Andrew Little, secondly because she's a woman (yes there are plenty of women out that who are that superficial!) and lastly I can see several percent migrating from the Greens, thanks to Metiria.

So where does that leave us?

The Greens are now in danger of slipping below the 5% threshold. If they keep on doubling down in their support of Metiria there is a good chance they will continue to bleed right up until the election. They really need to cut her loose to save the sinking ship.

TOP will probably take 1-2%, mostly from liberal urban white males most of whom would have been Labour voters in the days when Labour was a "broad church".

Conclusion: Most of this is not good news for a left of centre coalition. It will be good for Jacinda though, because it will cement her role as leader and give her the power base to make the necessary changes within Labour. She and Labour are not in a fit state to run a country at this point anyway so no harm is done - but it gives her the chance to build a solid foundation for next time around.